Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dekallcream’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Dekallcream’, characterized by its daisy-type inflorescences with elliptic-shaped, light yellow-colored ray florets; typically grown as a spray-type; strong and upright flowering stems; freely flowering habit; early and uniform flowering response; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Dekallcream’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium andreferred to by the name ‘Dekallcream’.

The new Chrysanthemum is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation ofthe Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Dekallwhite, not patented. The newChrysanthemum was discovered and selected by the Inventor in September,2004 as a single flowering plant within a population of plants of thecultivar Dekallwhite in a controlled environment in Hensbroek, TheNetherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttingsharvested in Hensbroek, The Netherlands since November, 2004, has shownthat the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Dekallcream has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dekallcream’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Dekallcream’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Daisy-type inflorescences with elliptic-shaped, light        yellow-colored ray florets; typically grown as a spray-type.    -   2. Strong and upright flowering stems.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Early and uniform flowering response.    -   5. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the parent,the cultivar Dekallwhite. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inHensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differedfrom plants of the cultivar Dekallwhite primarily in ray floretcoloration as plants of the cultivar Dekallwhite have white-colored rayflorets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of theChrysanthemum cultivar Yen Yellow, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the newChrysanthemum differed primarily from plants of the cultivar Yen Yellowin the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more vigorous than        plants of the cultivar Yen Yellow.    -   2. Branching habit of plants of the new Chrysanthemum was        broader than branching habit of plants of the cultivar Yen        Yellow.    -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had larger inflorescences        than plants of the cultivar Yen Yellow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering stem of ‘Dekallcream’.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet comprises a close-up viewof typical inflorescences of ‘Dekallcream’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view ofthe upper and lower surfaces of typical inflorescences and leaves of‘Dekallcream’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementionedphotographs and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown during the summer in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, under commercialpractice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were initially given longday/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatmentsto induce flower initiation and development. During the production ofthe plants, day temperatures ranged from 17.5° C. to 30° C., nighttemperatures ranged from 18.5° C. to 24° C. and light levels were aboutfive kilolux. Plants were pinched once and were about nine weeks fromplanting when the photographs and the description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar    Dekallcream.-   Commercial classification: Daisy-type Chrysanthemum typically grown    as a spray-type cut flower.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the    Chrysanthemum×morifolium Dekallwhite, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 6 days at 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 7 days at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 14 days at            20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About 16 days at            20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine and freely branching; light brown in            color.-   Plant description:    -   -   Appearance.—Herbaceous daisy-type cut Chrysanthemum;            typically grown as a spray-type; erect and strong flowering            stems. Moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Flowering stem description.—Length: About 90 cm. Diameter:            About 6 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Aspect:            Erect. Branching habit: Plants are typically grown as single            stems. Color: Close to 146B.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 5 cm to 7.5 cm. Width: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Apex:            Cuspidate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed.            Texture, upper and lower surface: Pubescent. Petiole length:            About 5 mm to 10 mm. Color: Developing and fully expanded            foliage, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation, 146A to            146B. Developing and fully expanded foliage, lower surface:            Close to 147B; venation, close to 146B. Petiole, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 146B.-   Inflorescence Description:    -   -   Appearance.—Daisy-type inflorescence form with            elliptic-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on            terminals above foliage. Disk and ray florets develop            acropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescences not fragrant.            Typically grown as spray-types.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant            typically flower in November in the Northern Hemisphere. At            other times of the year, inflorescence initiation and            development can be induced under short day/long night            conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plants exposed            to long day/short night conditions after planting followed            by photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower            about 6.5 weeks later. Early and uniform flowering response.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Cut inflorescences will maintain            good substance and form for about four weeks.        -   Quantity of inflorescences per flowering stem.—About 30            inflorescence buds and inflorescences per flowering stem.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 3 cm to 3.5 cm. Depth            (height): About 1 cm. Diameter of disc: About 1 cm.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 3 mm to 4 mm. Diameter:            About 5 mm to 6 mm. Shape: Flattened spherical. Color: 137C            to 137D.        -   Ray florets.—Length: About 1.2 cm to 1.5 cm. Width: About 4            mm to 6 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Rounded to cuspidate.            Base: Attenuate; fused. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Number of ray            florets per inflorescence: About 35 to 40 in about two            whorls. Color: When opening, upper surface: 4B. When            opening, lower surface: 4C. Fully opened, upper surface: 7D.            Fully opened, lower surface: 4D.        -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; elongated. Length: About 2 mm            to 3 mm. Width: About 0.5 mm to 1 mm. Number of disc florets            per inflorescence: About 75. Color: Immature: Close to 16B.            Mature: Apex: Close to 145B. Mid-section: Close to 15B.            Base: 145C to 145D.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 2 cm. Length,            fourth peduncle: About 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm to            1.5 mm. Angle: About 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 137D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Not observed on disc            florets. Gynoecium: Stigma length: About 3 mm. Stigma width:            About 0.2 mm. Stigma color: Towards the apex, close to 151C;            towards the base, close to 150C.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests of    Chrysanthemum has not been observed on plants of the new    Chrysanthemum.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named‘Dekallcream’, as illustrated and described.